The Child
Chapter 1
Warnings: None
They say that love is the end of duty and that duty is the end of love. Rhaenella couldn’t have found that further from the truth. For the love she had for her mother and house made her proud to learn of her duties or at least most of them.
Rhaenella could often be found in the fields of Runestone when she oft meant to be in her studies. Like how she was now, gathering flowers next to the wall of Runestone.
As Rhaenella continued to gather flowers and mend the stems together,being lost in a sea of her own thoughts. The girl never heard the sound of a horse and its rider coming near.
“And just where are you supposed to be little hawk?”
Came a chiding voice of none other than Lady Rhea. A squeaky yelp could be heard and Rhaenella swiftly turned around to see her mother. After a bright gulp, “um! Nowhere mother.” Quickly claimed Rhaenella. Watching as her mother unseated herself from her horse and walked to her.
“Really? Then you wouldn’t mind explaining to me why I am hearing half of Runestone calling your name near the front gate?” Quickly replied Rhea with a smirk gradually reaching her cheeks.
But upon gazing down at her child, she quickly changes her face and tone to that of Lady Royce. “Please do explain to me the benefits of leaving your lessons unattended to and coming out here to simply make flower crowns!” Rhea said chidingly and gently grabbed the flower crowns on the ground, proving that Rhaenella had missed most of her lessons meant for today. Rhaenella looks up at her mother ashamed but looks to the side puffing out her cheeks.
“I didn’t even miss all of my lessons, I only meant to delay my last one with Ser Gerold.”
Rhaenella says the last bit rather quietly but Rhea still hears and gently lowers herself to be at level with her child.
“And why do you want to skip this lesson with cousin Gerold?” Rhea asks. “You know why mother!” Rhaenella yells back but quickly turns away ashamed.
Rhea soon looks around a little exasperated but also anxiously. “No matter how many time you speak to Ser Gerold he still treats me li-“ Rhaenella stops her sentence short but continues in a soft tone.
“Like I am an outsider, like I don’t belong. He looks at me with an expectation of something bad to happen as if I am-.” Rhaenella stops at the touch of her mother who is patting her head gently. Rhaenella gazes upon her mother whose face is marred by trouble.
“Let’s get you inside little hawk, mark your duties today fulfilled.”
Lady Rhea gazes at her daughter for a moment longer with an emotion Rhaenella can’t explain but complies with her Lady mother.
As Rhaenella is readied for bed by her septa she thinks nothing but of her mother and ser Gerold. Thoughts so loud that even long after her septa had left she found no sleep and decided to get up and sneak out of her room. It was quite easy since the guards to her room tend to sleep early into their shift.
As Rhaenella comes upon her mother’s solar she hears muffled voices and also finds no guards. She gets close to the door but dares not to open it. From her spot near the door she can hear her mother and Ser Gerold inside.
“She is a child Gerold, she bears no sins of her father! When will you get that through your head!” Rhaenella jumps at the harsh tone of her mother but soon hears the guilt ridden tone of Gerold.
“I know that cousin but I-“ “THERE IS NO EXCUSING THIS GEROLD!”
Rhaenella could hear her mother cut in harshly along with sound of a harsh bang.
“You tend to forget that as much as she is that Craven’s child- she is also mine! I am the one who suffered for months to bring her into this world! I am the one who labored! I am the one who fed her from my breast to ensure her strength! Despite all the turmoil I suffered with her at the start! She is mine, cousin. You do well to remember that from now on.”
Rhaenella even from behind the door could feel the finality of her mother’s words and as quietly as she could backed away from the door and hid. Rhaenella watched as a stone faced Gerold walked out of her mother’s solar and disappeared into the castle’s darkness.
Seeing her coast was clear, Rhaenella made her way back to her room and thanked the gods old and new that her guards were still vast asleep.
Upon entering her room Rhaenella is left feeling conflicted. Rhaenella didn’t hear the whole argument between her mother and Gerold but she could mostly likely guess that her father was mentioned in some form considering that he was a catalyst for this whole situation.
Rhaenella only ever knew the bare minimum of her father. All that she truly knew of her father was basics of who he is which gave nothing of his personality or is character.
One part of Rhaenella wants to know her father but another part truly couldn’t care. For how could she miss someone that she never truly knew. Her mother gave her all the love and attention she could think of. Be it there were moments of tension but from what her septa had told her who hasn’t? So what was the problem? Truly Speaking what role could the Prince Daemon fill that her mother had not? No matter how much Rhaenella paced her mind and body there was no answer.
The only thing Rhaenella could think of to assume an answer was that the only thing fueling her curiosity for this man was because no one gave her answer as to who he was, not even her mother. For the all answers she would give that was the one she would not give.
As Rhaenella thought this she stopped her pacing and sat down on her settee, facing the fire of her hearth.
Rhaenella recounted that moment of time when she did ask her mother about her father and did all she could to pry out any and all information but upon asking her mother, all Rhaenella received was a look filled with nothing but pain and helplessness.
Seeing that look upon her mother hurt Rhaenella in a way she never thought and all she could think of in that moment was that she never wanted to see that look again.
The only thing her mother uttered in that moment was that she would tell Rhaenella of her father when she is older, be it that he stays in the Stepstones still by that time- or when he indefinitely returns.
Her father would be a conversation saved for when the proper time came, thus Prince Daemon can be tucked away for now Rhaenella thought. Upon this conclusion a wave of determination stirred up in Rhaenella and she jumps up from her settee and heads for her desk and pulls out all of her books, scrolls, papers and quills.
Rhaenella would get no sleep this night for in her quivering heart was the determination to make her mother proud and for her to be ready to stand tall and face her studies well prepared in the morning.
It was safe to bet that upon all gods- old and new that Rhaenella was anything but properly prepared for her studies. For when her Septa Milla entered Rhaenella’s chamber the poor woman thought she had seen a ghost for the poor girl was pale, slumped and had eyes so dark they rivaled an empty night sky.
Upon Septa Milla’s arrival Rhaenella was fretted upon and ushered into a hot bath and then once out was readied for her day in what felt like only a matter of minutes. After quickly fretting over Rhaenella some more, Rhaenella was then escorted to the dining hall to break her fast with her mother.
“By all seven hells!”
Rhaenella heard her mother exclaim as she made her way next to her.
“Your daughter my lady deemed it necessary to stay up well past the hour of the wolf and well into this morning!” Explained Milla as Rhea turned to her daughter.
“But it was not only her staying up all night my lady, the girl was simply engulfed in a mountain of books, scrolls and paper!” “Would you care to explain yourself little hawk?”
Upon the question from her mother Rhaenella gazes up and into her eyes. “I- I wanted to be prepared! For my studies and duties mother. I want to give Ser Gerold no quarter!”
As Rhaenella gazes into her mother’s eyes and face, she watches as Rhea leans back into her chair and releases a proud smile on her. “A true Royce of Runestone. But please little hawk do not jeopardize your sleep again. As much as it pleases me to see you study and learn- you need to sleep, especially since you are still young.”
Rhaenella is quick to pout upon the ending statement from her mother but bounces back from praise.
“While we are on the topic of your studies today, your lessons with Ser Gerold are going to be skipped today- and this is not due to yesterday’s events. Cousin Gerold is out hunting and I soon will also be joining.”
The discovery of her mother’s trip to the forest excites Rhaenella but before she could ask to join her mother, Rhea tells her no and that simply because one lesson is not on her ledger does not mean she has more free time today.
“Your lessons little hawk will be just as long as they usually should be just that one will not be performed today. I expect to hear high remarks when I get back from my hunt considering your rather lovely night time activity.”
Rhea says with a smile. Her mother then finishes up her morning food, cleans herself and walks over to Rhaenella.
“Should you do well on your studies today, the next time I find myself wanting for a hunt. I will bring you along, how about that little hawk?”
Rhaenella’s face lights up upon this question and nods her head yes to her mother. Rhea kneels down to her daughter’s level and kisses her on her forehead.
“Be good for your septa and our maester. I will see you when I return.”
Rhea stands and pats Rhaenella’s head and strides out of the dining hall. Rhaenella watched her mother’s back fade out of the halls and quickly eats her morning food much to her septa’s dismay.
The day was still long for Rhaenella despite having two studies off her ledger. Rhaenella bristled through embroidery, she muscled her way through dancing, manners and etiquette.
What surprisingly almost broke her was singing, Rhaenella felt she had no breath left in her at the end and was almost jubilant for her lessons in history with maester Corlin.
It was the afternoon when Rhaenella reached the end of her last lessons with Maester Corlin regarding her literature and numbers. Rhanella after seating herself near one of the many windows had sneaked a peak outside to see if her mother returned but found nothing of significance in the courtyard.
Soon finding herself back facing her studies she is then interrupted by a door opening causing Maester Corlin to stop his teachings. Rhanella looking up from her papers is faced with Ser Gerold and Septa Milla.
“Ser Gerold, Septa Milla to what do I owe this interruption?”
“My Lady Ser Gerold wished to have a quick word with you but despite informing him that you were well into your studies,still wished to have a word with you.”
Rhanella gazes upon her septa and is quick to notice the nervousness of the woman with her fidgeting but says nothing and looks to Ser Gerold. Not willing to show anymore weakness to this man and for appearances sake stands and approach’s.
“Well Ser Gerold what do you wish to say?” Rhanella fights the urge to also fidget much like her septa.
Gerold steps forward and kneels down on one knee to Rhanella much to her surprise. “I wish to apologize Lady Rhaenella for my actions against you, it was wrong of me, I need not explain them away for that would be a waste of words. I wish to do this house proud and instead have shamed it and its heir.” Gerold then looks up into Rhaenella’s eyes.
“ there is no amount of words to describe the shame I feel in knowing I not only hurt my dear cousin Rhea with my actions but also her dear and beloved daughter. I am sorry Rhaenella, if you would forgive this foolish man, I humbly ask to continue in aiding you with your lessons in the sword and riding.” Gerold then moves his head down finishing his apology.
Looking to her Septa Rhaenella can also see the surprise on her face and most likely also on Maester Corlin who stands behind her. Not wanting this silence to continue she demands Gerold to stand and when he does.
“I must confess that this animosity between us is something I never truly understood, and although I may suspect the reasons that started it, I just wish for it to end. Gerold if this is truly a new start then it would bring me no greater pleasure to continue training with you! If it would also be possible could I also call you cousin? Since we are family and it would bring me great happiness to be as close as we should be!”
Upon this response Rhaenella sees a visible relaxation take hold of Gerold and a small smile graces his face.
“There would be no greater honor Rhaenella.” Unable to contain her happiness she hugs him and to her joy Gerold hugs her back.
“Before you go have you seen my mother out in the woods? She went hunting separately from you.” Rhaenella ask quickly.
“Yes but that was- I assume around earlier in the morning. I didn’t pass her upon my return but I am sure she will be back soon my lady, the sun is still quite high”
Rhanella steps back from Gerold and nods her head in understanding and bids him a goodbye for today.
Ser Gerold turns to go but upon reaching the door turns and wishes Rhaenella a good spar for tomorrow’s training. Gerold then leaves the room leaving her Septa and Maester in Rhaenella’s company. For a day so joyous Rhaenella’s hopes had begun to fly.
She felt as if the day was blessed by the Seven themselves but that happiness could only last for so long in a world such as hers.
For not long after Gerold’s visit, Rhaenella is told the news of mother’s horse arriving riderless into Runestone. Chaos had begun to seep into Rhaenella’s perfect day, sickening the very halls of her home and worrying Rhanella to no end.
Rhaenella had been taken to her chambers upon the news and was told Ser Gerold had taken a handful of Royce soldiers to find her mother.
Hours had passed, the sun that once showed such promise had now become a beacon of dread. For the closer it came to setting the more of Rhaenella’s sanity would wane- the more she cried for her mother. Despite the reassurances from her septa Rhaenella would not settle until she laid eyes on her mother. Rhaenella was pacing her room constantly looking out of all windows for a sign of Gerold and his company that would contain her mother but no sign was shown. She prayed to all seven gods for a sign and when that would not work she prayed to any and all gods, old and new combined until all thoughts became jumbled in her mind.
The only thing Rhaenella was told and what she heard was that her mother’s horse rode in fast into Runestone as if the poor thing was startled and that no blood or savagery was upon the horse. Meaning that most likely her mother may be alright. After all her mother was well known hunter and fighter but if her mother was alright why couldn’t they find her! Rhanella was at her wits end by the time the sun was passing the hills leading its decent to night.
It was around this time Rhaenella heard chaos begin to set in. For she could see from her windows Gerold and Royce soldiers riding fast towards Runestone.
Rhaenella wasted no time, pushing past her septa and down all the stairs and hallways in Runestone to make her way down to the courtyard.
She payed no mind to her septa who screamed and chased her through Runestone holding her robe for her night dress. As Rhanella pushed past guards who tried to stop her, she pushed the courtyard doors wide open.
Smiling at the thought of ending this nightmare and seeing her mother. All was shattered as Rhaenella laid her eyes on what would be the end of her innocence. What would be the end of all that she knew.
For the smile she had on her face faded and twisted into utter agony and confusion as why her mother would not stand. No matter her persistence to get closer, her septa and guards held the poor girl back as she kicked and screamed. As they carried her mother past her and into Runestone the only coherent thing Rhaenella could utter in that moment was one thing.
“Mother?”
(Hope you enjoyed the OFFICIAL chapter 1 of The Child and like and comment if you enjoyed and wish to be added to the next chapter for a notification. @saradika-graphics for the banners.)
